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When a ministry has the distinct focus of media discernment, it's important to not get "ministry-centric" and succumb to a tunnel vision that only focuses on what we are doing for the Kingdom. That is one of the many reasons why I have been a volunteer for Gospel for Asia and why Media Talk 101 promotes this vital ministry. Did you know that there are 500,000 villages in India alone that have never heard the gospel? 80,000 people in Asian countries die every day without knowing about the love of Christ.
I was blessed to have the opportunity in November to join a small group of GFA volunteers and staff for a twelve day trip to India to get a glimpse of what God is doing through this amazing mission organization which focuses on training and sending native missionaries. We visited leper colonies, pioneer work on islands in West Bengal, Bible schools, Bridge of Hope centers, and much more. There were two things that were clearly evident in Gospel for Asia's work and that is their bedrock emphasis on evangelizing the lost and secondly the importance of planting churches for the purpose of discipleship.
I was first introduced to Gospel for Asia at a Promise Keepers event years ago when I was given a free book called "Revolution in World Missions." I have to confess that I didn't read the book right away though I had good intentions to do so… eventually. Then I had the privilege of hearing a guest speaker at a church share about the ministry of Gospel for Asia and how they were training and sending native missionaries to unreached people.
These missionaries already knew the language, the customs, and lived at the level of the people they were trying to reach. Their vision was big because the need was so great and I was blown away to learn that they had 54 Bible schools throughout Asia with around 9000 students who were being trained for ministry. 98 percent of the graduates minister in places where the gospel has not been preached and many of them succeed in starting a fellowship in their first year in the field. Along with the thousands of missionaries they already have in the field, they are establishing an average of 17 fellowships a day in previously unreached villages and people groups.
I remember thinking, "how have they been able to mobilize so many people for the work of the gospel?" And that's when I learned where you and I come into this picture. The dollar goes a long way over in Asia and the average missionary only needs about $120-$210 a month to be fully supported with the goal of being self supported as soon as possible. That means that it only takes 4-7 supporters who are able to give $30 a month ($1 a day) to fully support that missionary who is reaching the unreached and planting a church in their first year. One of the things that also grabbed my attention was that 100% of my donation would go directly to the missionary.
Being in ministry ourselves, our family has often lived on very meager means. It meant a lot to me to know that I could financially support a missionary and my small donation would actually help evangelize unreached people and help plant a church.
After hearing the presentation I decided we as a family would support a native missionary, and much like a child sponsorship program, we were given a picture of the missionary in need of sponsors, along with a short testimony and some information about the area they are ministering in. The next thing on my agenda was to finally read that book "Revolution in World Missions" that had sat on my book shelf. After reading the book I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to help support this ministry so I decided I would take my family to their US headquarters in Carrollton, TX to learn more about the ministry and how we could get involved.
That time that we spent at their office and with their staff was a confirmation that we were getting involved in the right ministry. The Gospel for Asia staff (who raise their own support so that 100% of donations for missionaries can go to the missionaries) were people of faith, and prayer, and dedication, and prayer, and passion for the lost, and prayer. I can't say enough about their integrity and hard work on behalf of the lost. They were also just beginning a new volunteer program so I was thrilled to be able to find a way to get more involved.
That was nearly five years ago and since then the missionary we were supporting became self supported by the churches he started and we were able to sponsor a student in Bible school who was preparing for the field. We also began sponsoring a child through their Bridge of Hope program which starts schools among the poorest people so their children could get a Christian education, a meal each day, and clothes for school. This ministry of mercy builds a bridge of hope not only to the children but also to their parents and villages who may have otherwise been antagonistic towards the missionaries who have come to share the love of Christ.
As a volunteer I have had the opportunity to help out at information tables at conferences and festivals as well as share about the ministry in churches and small groups. I want to help get the word out about how we can be a part of reaching the unreached in Asia through prayer, financial support, and through spreading the word.
You might be thinking, "hey, I thought you were going to tell us about your trip to India!" and that is my intention, but I wanted to give you an understanding of why I went to India. Gospel for Asia wanted to take a small group of volunteers like myself to India so that we could see the work first hand, to meet some of the missionaries, visit some of the Bible schools, Bridge of Hope schools, and other outreaches. We were able to visit their main headquarters in Kerala, interview staff members, share meals, and worship with our brothers and sisters half way round the world.
Most importantly we were there not just to take pictures and write notes, but to capture what was going on in our hearts. We didn't visit the Taj Mahal, or the Golden Temple which are the temporal accomplishments of man. Instead we visited ministry among leper colonies and inner city ministry to impoverished children, and pioneer ministry among unreached islands which are the eternal works of God being accomplished through humble servants that have dedicated their lives for sake of the gospel.
I have so much that I would like to share about this trip and the ministry that I saw but it will be too long for one article. I will follow this up in the near future and share some more if you're interested in hearing. Please take a moment and visit GFA's website www.gfa.org and also request a copy of the free book "Revolution in World Missions" if you haven't read it yet. There are so many great pictures, videos, and stories of missionaries and their work on the website.
I was blessed to have the opportunity in November to join a small group of GFA volunteers and staff for a twelve day trip to India to get a glimpse of what God is doing through this amazing mission organization which focuses on training and sending native missionaries. We visited leper colonies, pioneer work on islands in West Bengal, Bible schools, Bridge of Hope centers, and much more. There were two things that were clearly evident in Gospel for Asia's work and that is their bedrock emphasis on evangelizing the lost and secondly the importance of planting churches for the purpose of discipleship.
I was first introduced to Gospel for Asia at a Promise Keepers event years ago when I was given a free book called "Revolution in World Missions." I have to confess that I didn't read the book right away though I had good intentions to do so… eventually. Then I had the privilege of hearing a guest speaker at a church share about the ministry of Gospel for Asia and how they were training and sending native missionaries to unreached people.
These missionaries already knew the language, the customs, and lived at the level of the people they were trying to reach. Their vision was big because the need was so great and I was blown away to learn that they had 54 Bible schools throughout Asia with around 9000 students who were being trained for ministry. 98 percent of the graduates minister in places where the gospel has not been preached and many of them succeed in starting a fellowship in their first year in the field. Along with the thousands of missionaries they already have in the field, they are establishing an average of 17 fellowships a day in previously unreached villages and people groups.
I remember thinking, "how have they been able to mobilize so many people for the work of the gospel?" And that's when I learned where you and I come into this picture. The dollar goes a long way over in Asia and the average missionary only needs about $120-$210 a month to be fully supported with the goal of being self supported as soon as possible. That means that it only takes 4-7 supporters who are able to give $30 a month ($1 a day) to fully support that missionary who is reaching the unreached and planting a church in their first year. One of the things that also grabbed my attention was that 100% of my donation would go directly to the missionary.
Being in ministry ourselves, our family has often lived on very meager means. It meant a lot to me to know that I could financially support a missionary and my small donation would actually help evangelize unreached people and help plant a church.
After hearing the presentation I decided we as a family would support a native missionary, and much like a child sponsorship program, we were given a picture of the missionary in need of sponsors, along with a short testimony and some information about the area they are ministering in. The next thing on my agenda was to finally read that book "Revolution in World Missions" that had sat on my book shelf. After reading the book I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to help support this ministry so I decided I would take my family to their US headquarters in Carrollton, TX to learn more about the ministry and how we could get involved.
That time that we spent at their office and with their staff was a confirmation that we were getting involved in the right ministry. The Gospel for Asia staff (who raise their own support so that 100% of donations for missionaries can go to the missionaries) were people of faith, and prayer, and dedication, and prayer, and passion for the lost, and prayer. I can't say enough about their integrity and hard work on behalf of the lost. They were also just beginning a new volunteer program so I was thrilled to be able to find a way to get more involved.
That was nearly five years ago and since then the missionary we were supporting became self supported by the churches he started and we were able to sponsor a student in Bible school who was preparing for the field. We also began sponsoring a child through their Bridge of Hope program which starts schools among the poorest people so their children could get a Christian education, a meal each day, and clothes for school. This ministry of mercy builds a bridge of hope not only to the children but also to their parents and villages who may have otherwise been antagonistic towards the missionaries who have come to share the love of Christ.
As a volunteer I have had the opportunity to help out at information tables at conferences and festivals as well as share about the ministry in churches and small groups. I want to help get the word out about how we can be a part of reaching the unreached in Asia through prayer, financial support, and through spreading the word.
You might be thinking, "hey, I thought you were going to tell us about your trip to India!" and that is my intention, but I wanted to give you an understanding of why I went to India. Gospel for Asia wanted to take a small group of volunteers like myself to India so that we could see the work first hand, to meet some of the missionaries, visit some of the Bible schools, Bridge of Hope schools, and other outreaches. We were able to visit their main headquarters in Kerala, interview staff members, share meals, and worship with our brothers and sisters half way round the world.
Most importantly we were there not just to take pictures and write notes, but to capture what was going on in our hearts. We didn't visit the Taj Mahal, or the Golden Temple which are the temporal accomplishments of man. Instead we visited ministry among leper colonies and inner city ministry to impoverished children, and pioneer ministry among unreached islands which are the eternal works of God being accomplished through humble servants that have dedicated their lives for sake of the gospel.
I have so much that I would like to share about this trip and the ministry that I saw but it will be too long for one article. I will follow this up in the near future and share some more if you're interested in hearing. Please take a moment and visit GFA's website www.gfa.org and also request a copy of the free book "Revolution in World Missions" if you haven't read it yet. There are so many great pictures, videos, and stories of missionaries and their work on the website.
My Trip to India with
Gospel for Asia
by Phillip Telfer
"How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7
Gospel for Asia
by Phillip Telfer
"How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7
P.O. Box 201
Mt. Carroll, IL 61053
Mt. Carroll, IL 61053